In the Ministry of Justice prison, Chang Beiqiu, dressed in plain white clothes, sat cross-legged with his eyes slightly closed.
This place is different from the Imperial Prison, which held all sorts of prisoners, from all walks of life, who committed arson, murder, and robbery. Whether they were prison guards or officials, they could be tortured at will.
The prisoners in the Ministry of Justice's jail were all high-ranking officials, nobles, and wealthy merchants who had committed serious crimes.
Chang Beiqiu is among them.
Before long, a jailer came with a food box to deliver food to the prisoners.
Chang Beiqiu slowly opened his eyes and asked, "Brother, what time is it today?"
The jailer glanced up at him, then quickly lowered his head again and whispered, "It's the 25th of the twelfth lunar month."
Looking at his expression, Chang Beiqiu chuckled softly: "You recognize me?"
The jailer hesitated before speaking: "The year you became the top scholar and paraded through the streets on horseback, I was fortunate enough to see your magnificent figure on the street."
Upon hearing this, Chang Beiqiu sighed.
The jailer explained:
His father was also a scholar and greatly admired this young top scholar. He grew up almost entirely listening to his stories. He knew that he had gained the emperor's favor within three years of entering the court, and then vigorously cracked down on cheating in the imperial examinations, finally giving scholars from poor families a way out. He also knew that he knelt before the imperial study, just to ask the emperor to broaden the channels of communication and not to listen to one side or believe one side. He also knew that he was always kind and benevolent to his juniors and that his heart as a teacher and elder was deep and sincere.
Chang Beiqiu smiled slightly: "Now, decades later, the child who dreamed of becoming a top scholar and rising above others by studying like the man on horseback has become a prison guard, while the top scholar who once rode through the streets in glory has become a prisoner."
"To meet again in this world, and to find ourselves in such a predicament, how can one not feel a profound sense of melancholy and sorrow?"
"That's not what I meant," the jailer quickly replied.
"It's alright." Chang Beiqiu looked up at the bright, shining moon outside the narrow iron window. "It's time."
The jailer, puzzled, stared at him blankly.
"It's alright, you can go now," Chang Beiqiu said gently.
His students, whom he personally taught, would likely share his view that a new dynasty in the new year is a very appropriate time.
...
Upon receiving the Crown Prince's decree, Wei Qinglou rode out of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion and went straight to the palace gate before being stopped by the guards.
"The nobles in the palace have all retired for the night. Please dismount and walk, so as not to disturb them."
Wei Qinglou dismounted as instructed, tossed the reins to the guard, and rushed to the eunuch who had come to greet him, hurriedly asking, "Where is His Majesty now?"
"I am in the palace. Please come with me, Your Excellency."
...
At the same time, a letter was delivered from the Eastern Palace to Zhu Jiayu.
The letter contained only two lines of poetry: "When the bright moon sets in the west, those in the deep palace know nothing."
Holding the candlelight, Lüzheng read aloud the poem from the letter, then asked, puzzled, "Miss, what does this mean?"
As Zhu Jiayu got up and put on his clothes, he said, "There are two more lines in this poem: 'The Zhongnan Mountains are shrouded in beautiful mist and clouds, one can forget worldly concerns in blissful tranquility.'"
"These are lines from a poem written by a former official after he retired to the mountains, reflecting on the palace coup. Something has happened in the palace."
"But why did this letter end up in your hands?" Green Kite asked as she helped her get dressed.
Zhu Jiayu was taken aback, then suddenly came to her senses: "Go to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion and see if Wei Qinglou is there. If he is not, then inform the Duke of Zhenguo about this matter. I will go to the Ning mansion."
Although she gave these instructions, she had actually given up hope.
The fact that this letter reached her might be seen as a reminder that the events in the palace were also related to Wei Qinglou. Perhaps Wei Qinglou had already entered the palace by now, but who would want to deal with him?
After thinking for a long time, she felt that only the Crown Prince could be the answer.
Rumors say that the Crown Prince and Grand Tutor Chang Beiqiu have a deep affection for each other. If it is for Chang Beiqiu's sake, it is not impossible that the Crown Prince would take action against Wei Qinglou.
Could he bypass the emperor? Obviously not.
Unless the Emperor… she sighed, fearing that the Emperor was already on the verge of death.
However, if the Crown Prince is to succeed to the throne, he cannot afford to lose the support of the people at this time. Therefore, even if she is engaged to Wei Qinglou, the Crown Prince will not touch the Zhu family. After all, the Zhu family is just a merchant family, and he has no reason to do so.
However, the Ning family is a different story. Because of her, the Ning family and Wei Qinglou are closely linked. If they want to strike at Wei Qinglou, starting with the Ning family is undoubtedly the best choice.
The Crown Prince is the ruler, and the Ning family are the subjects. The relationship between the ruler and the subject is nothing more than this: if the ruler wants the subject to die, the subject has no choice but to die.
Flames were already raging outside the Ning residence, and the Xuanwu Guards, clad in armor and armed with torches, had completely surrounded the Ning residence.
The servants opened the gate and crowded inside, looking warily and suspiciously at the group of soldiers outside the gate.
The leading general raised his hand high and announced loudly, "By order of the Crown Prince, arrest the traitor Ning Han and his wife. Anyone who disobeys will be executed without exception!"
"Traitor?!"
Like a pot of water suddenly boiling, the servants of the Ning family pushed and shoved each other, not knowing when their master had become a traitor.
"The Crown Prince is benevolent and has decreed that all servants of the Ning residence may be asked to leave. I, the general, will obey the order. Those who wish to live should leave the Ning residence. I, the general, and my soldiers will not harm you!" the general added.
However, no one moved.
It wasn't because they were loyal, or for some other reason, but simply because they hadn't come to their senses yet.
This is so sudden.
There were no suspicious people coming and going in their household, and the master's food and expenses were within the normal allowance for officials. How could they be traitors?
However, the general outside the door took their reaction as a silent resistance. He rode his tall horse and said coldly, "Since that's the case, don't blame me for showing no mercy!"
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